Percé Rock

Percé Rock is a limestone sea stack off Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula, pierced by a large arch and surrounded by waters rich in seabirds.

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Sea stack: A sea stack is an isolated pillar of rock left offshore by coastal erosion. Percé Rock is a prominent example of this landform.
Percé Rock National Park: Percé Rock National Park is a Quebec protected area encompassing Percé Rock and Bonaventure Island. The park protects the rock and nearby seabird habitat.
Appalachian Mountains: The Appalachian Mountains are an ancient mountain chain extending across eastern North America. The Gaspé region’s bedrock formed within the Appalachian geological province.
Île Bonaventure et du Rocher-Percé: Île Bonaventure et du Rocher-Percé is a Quebec national park protecting Bonaventure Island and Percé Rock. This protected area brings the rock and its neighboring island into one conservation landscape.
Marine erosion: Marine erosion is the wearing away of coastal rock by waves, currents, and seawater. Wave action helped separate the rock from the mainland and enlarge its openings.
Bonaventure Island: Bonaventure Island is an island off the Gaspé Peninsula known for its large seabird colonies. It lies beside Percé Rock and anchors the area’s wildlife tourism.
Ordovician: The Ordovician is a geological period spanning about 485 to 444 million years ago. Some of the region’s sedimentary rocks originated during this period.
Percé: Percé is a town on Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula, facing Percé Rock and Bonaventure Island. The town is the principal mainland base for visiting the rock.
Limestone: Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of calcium carbonate. The rock’s carbonate geology makes it vulnerable to dissolution and erosion.
Northern gannet: The northern gannet is a large seabird that plunges into the sea to catch fish. A major colony nests on nearby Bonaventure Island.